Trouser and belt loop arrangement



Sept. 13, 1966 c. R. MALLETT ETAL 3, ,7

TROUSER AND BELT LOOP ARRANGEMENT Filed March 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Sept. 13, 1966 c. R. MALLETT ETAL 3,271,783

TROUSER AND BELT LOOP ARRANGEMENT Filed March 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2FIGJB United States Fatent ice 3,271 783 TROUSER AND BELT LOOPARRANGEMENT Charles R. Mallett, P.O. Box 483, Raceland, La., and Coy F.Glenn, P.O. Box 58, Amory, Miss. Filed Mar. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 355,591 2Claims. (Cl. 2236) This invention generally relates to novel trousersconstruction. More particularly, this invention relates to a type ofconstruction adjacent the waistband area of trousers which permits thetrousers to be worn with or without a belt, at the owners option.

There are two general styles of pants Worn by boys and young men thesedays. The first style is generally known as Ivy-League trousers and suchtrousers contain a plurality of exposed belt loops positioned at spacedintervals around the outside of the waistband that are adapted toreceive a belt. The other style of trousers, usually referred to asContinental trousers, do not have any exposed belt loops and are wornwithout a belt. The Continental style trousers are sometimes providedwith some sort of elastic ten-sioning means adjacent the inner side ofthe waistband (e.g. Daks).

The popularity of both of these different styles of trousers usuallymeans that a retailer must stock both styles in each of the variouswaist sizes and lengths. In effect then, many retailers can only stockabout half the variety of colors and patterns that they would like tobecause they must duplicate every pattern and color in the two differentstyles. The end result is that in an effort to increase sales bysatisfying all customer tastes as to pants with belt loops or withoutloops, the retailer may lose sales because he does not have a sufiicientvariety of colors or patterns. Wholesalers and trouser manufacturerssuffer from the same sort of problem.

From. the purchasers point of view the two different styles also presenta problem. In other words, many young men feel that the Ivy League styleof pants (used with a belt) is appropriate for certain occasions andactivities while the Continental style (without a belt) is moreappropriate for other occasions and activities. Boys and young menhaving a limited amount of money to spend on clothes must thereforechoose between the tw styles when purchasing trousers.

The term trousers as used in the description and claims is intended toencompass not only the usual type of long pants worn by men and boys,but also the slacks, shorts, bermudas, pedal pushers, and the like thatare frequently worn by boys, girls, men and women.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to overcome theaforesaid disadvantages to retailers and purchasers by providingretailers with trousers which can be readily modified by the purchaserso that one pair of trousers can function as either Continental styletrousers or Ivy-League style trousers, or in other words so that thetrousers can be worn without a belt or with a belt. Numerous otherobjects and advantages will be readily apparent after reading thefollowing description in conjunction with the attached drawings,wherein:

FIGURE I1 is a fragmentary exterior view of a pair of trousers showingthe waistband area;

FIGURE 2 is a view along 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view along 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view the same as FIGURE 3, but after being engaged with abelt loop member;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are perspective views of two embodiments of belt loopmembers useful in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary interior view of a pair of trousers showingthe interior of the waistband area;

FIGURE 8 is a View along 88 of FIGURE 7;

3,271,783 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 FIGURE 9 is the same as FIGURE 8, butwith another type of belt loop engaged therewith;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary exterior view of a different trouserconstruction showing the waistband area;

FIGURES 1'1 and '12 are views along 1111 and 12-12 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 13 is a cross sectional view of another type of waistbandconstruction in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 13, but with a belt loop therein;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary interior View of a pair of trousers showing adifferent construction on the interior of the waistband;

FIGURE 16 is a view along 1616 of FIGURE 15.

Considered from one aspect, the present invention relates to trousersthat can be used with or without a belt and comprising in combination:

(a) A waistband section disposed circumferentially around the uppermostportion of said trousers,

(b) The lower circumferential portion of said waist band section beingjoined to the upper edge portion of the main body of the trousermaterial by stitching that is disposed along a generally circumferentialseam line,

(c) Said circumferential seam line being interrupted at spaced apartintervals to provide a plurality of exteriorly accessible openings,

(d) Said openings being wide enough to accommodate a belt loop member.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a fragmentary exterior view ofa pair of pants consisting of a waistband portion 20 and the main bodyportion 22 of the trousers. As seen in FIGURE 1 the waistband section 20can be generally defined by upper circumferential line 24 and lowercircumferential line 26.

FIGURE 2 is a view along 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates one possibleconstruction of a waistband section. (There are many, many possible waysof constructing waistbands.) In FIGURE 2 it will be seen that the uppercircumferential line 24 is actually defined by (or formed by) a foldedover piece of material, the lower interior end 28 of which is stitchedat 30 to a piece of material 32, the lower end of this piece of material32 also being stitched at 34 to the main body portion 22 of thetrousers.

It will also be seen that the lower circumferential line 26 is actuallya folded over layer of material that is stitched at 36 to the main bodyportion 22 of the trousers. The stitching 36 shown in FIGURE 2 is notvisible in FIGURE 1 (because it is behind the folded portion) and thelocation of the stitching 36 has been indicated by the brackets A and Bin FIGURE 1. It will be observed that there is a gap in the stitchingbetween the brackets A and B and this gap is left there for a specificpurpose which will be described more fully hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, which is a view along 33 of FIGURE 1, it willbe observed that the absence of a seam or stitching between the bracketsA and B in FIGURE 1 results in a gap or unsewn area which amounts to anexteriorly accessible opening 40', which is clearly indicated insideview in FIGURE 3. This exteriorly accessible opening 40 is quiteimportant to this invention, as will be more apparent in FIGURE 4.Actually, the daylight provided by the opening 40 as depicted in FIGURE3 is somewhat exaggerated because the fold of material 42 would probablyactually press lightly against main body of the trouser portion 22 mostof the time.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is shown a novel belt loop member inaccordance with this invention. It is seen that this belt loop memberessentially comprises an elongated strip of cloth material that has beenfolded over upon itself at approximately its midpoint so that it forms aloop hole or belt hole 44. The remaining portions of the folded overelongated strip (as approximately indicated by bracket C) can then besewn together to form a unitary strip 46 of double thickness. Thisunitary strip 46 can be made to have substantial rigidity in and ofitself, but additional rigidity can be imparted thereto in a number ofdifferent ways. For example, the section encompassed by bracket C can beimpregnated with a thermosetting resin and the resin then hardened sothat strip 46 becomes very stiff. Alternatively, a separate stiffeningmember such as Celluloid, or a strip of plastic (such as are used incollar stays) or the like can be sewn between the two layers of fabricwithin the bracketed area C to impart rigidity and stiffness to thissection. Other ways of achieving stiffness in section 46 will be obviousto those skilled in this art.

Alternatively, instead of sewing two portions of an elongated striptogether in the manner shown in FIGURE 5, the elongated strip would bemade shorter and the very end of the loop portion could be embedded in amass of plastic material 52, as is illustrated in FIGURE 6. In FIGURE 6it will be seen that the loop hole or belt hole 44 is formed by a foldedover elongated strip of material 48 and the shortened ends 50 of thisstrip embedded in plastic material 52. The plastic material thenfunctions in the same manner as section 46 of FIGURE 5.

' Referring back now to FIGURE 4 the utility of a belt loop member suchas is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 will be more apparent. Here it will beseen that the stiffened member 46 (or 52) is inserted upwardly throughthe exteriorly accessible opening 40 (shown in FIGURE 3). The loopholeor belt hole 44 then remains on the outside of the waistband and canreceive a belt, while the stiffer section 46 is housed within thewaistband section. The fact that section 46 is stiff serves to keep itfrom being inadvertently or accidentally dislodged from the Waistbandarea during the ordinary course of use.

FIGURE 7 is analogous to the view along 77 of FIGURE 2. The seam orstitching indicated by brackets D and E correspond to the stitching 30of FIGURES 2-4, the only difference being that in the particularembodiment shown in FIGURE 7 there is a gap (indicated by G) in the seamor stitching in the area between brackets D and E.

The effect of leaving a gap as indicated by G in FIG- URE 7 is evidentfrom FIGURE 8 which is a view along 88 of FIGURE 7. In FIGURE 8 it willbe seen that the gap G results in an interiorly accessible openingindicated by the arrow 50 and, as is further indicated by FIGURE 9, thisopening 50 is adapted to receive the upper stiffened end portion 52 of abelt loop member 54. It will thus be seen that if the upper stiffenedend 52 of a belt loop member 54 is inserted into the interiorlyaccessible opening 50 formed in accordance with FIGURES 7 and 8, and ifthe lower stiffened end 56 of belt loop member 54 is inserted through anexteriorly accessible opening (such as 58 shown in FIGURE 8 and whichhas been formed in the manner as set forth with regard to FIGURE 1-4)the belt loop member can be thus engaged in the waist-band area so as toform a loophole or belt hole 60, as is indicated in FIGURE 9.

In other words, in the embodiment of FIGURES 7-9 the belt loop memberconsists of two stiffened end portions and an intermediate unstiffenedportion which is adapted to receive a belt passed through the loophole60-. The ends 52. and 56 of the belt loop member may be stiffened in anydesirable manner, as for example by heavy stitching, by impregnationwith plastic material, or by the incorporation or insertion ofstiffening members within the ends of the belt loop member, or byequivalent means.

FIGURES -12 illustrate still another embodiment of the invention. Inthese figures, it will be seen that the upper portion of the trousersexpose or present three circumferential lines. Specifically,circumferential line 62 is a result of the upper fold in the strip ofmaterial 64, while the circumferential line 66 and the lowercircumferential line 68 are the result of upper and lower foldsrespectively in section 70. Circumferential lines 66 and 68 can beconsidered as defining the waistband section.

The seam or stitching '72 is continuous in a circumferential mannerexcept for spaced gaps as indicated by the bracket H (between brackets Jand K). Likewise, the stitching 74 is continuous in a circumferentialmanner except for gaps within the area indicated by bracket M (which isbetween the brackets L and N). FIGURE 12 illustrates how a belt loopmember having two stiffened end portions 82 and 84 may be inserteddownwardly and upwardly respectively through the exteriorly accessibleopenings provided by gaps H and M. The result is a belt loop memberfixed in place and having a loophole 86, as shown in FIGURE 12, yetwhich can be readily either inserted or removed from the waistband area.

FIGURES l3 and 14 illustrate still another embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment (see FIGURE 13) an exteriorly accessibleopening adjacent the lower end of the waistband area is formed asindicated by the arrow 90.

Immediately back of this exteriorly accessible opening there is providedan interiorly accessible opening in the form of a button hole or thelike 92, which is preferably stitched around its periphery to give longwear (e.g. see 92A in FIGURE 15). If a belt loop member 94 having alower stiffened end portion 96 is inserted through exteriorly accessibleopening 90 and then through opening 9.2, it will pass completely throughthe waistband section. As shown, the belt loop member 94, andparticularly its lower stiffened extension 96 is provided with a femalesocket gripping member 98 near the end thereof. The backside 100 of thewaistband section is likewise provided with a similar female socketgripping member 102. The upper end of the belt loop member 94 is thenprovided with two male gripping members 101 and 103 which are adapted toengage the female gripping members 98 and 102 respectively. With aconstruction of this sort a belt loop member is provided which can bequickly and readily inserted in place in a waistband section and whichcan be removed entirely from the trousers when desired. The lower endsection 96 of belt loop member 94 is stiffened in order to facilitateinsertion of the lower end through the openings 90 and 9.2. Under somecircumstances it may be permissible to omit this stiffened portion.Stiffening may be accomplished in the same manner as describedpreviously, that is by thermoplastic impregnation and subsequenthardening; by inserting a stiffened member therein, or in any of anumber of ways which are readily apparent to those skilled in this art.

FIGURES l5 and 16 illustrates still another embodiment of the presentinvention. FIGURE 15 represents the view that one would see when viewingFIGURE 13 along lines 15-15 with the exception that an S-shapedhooker-gripper element has been affixed to the backside of the waistbandsection. The hooker-gripper element 110 has an upper arm or extension112 and a lower arm or extension 114. The intermediate section 116 ofelement 110 is shown as being provided with two holes 118 whichfacilitate sewing (or otherwise fastening) the element 110 to thebackside 120 by means of stitching 122 (see FIG. 16). A buttonhole typeof opening 92a is located immediately below hooker-gripper element 110.As is perhaps best seen in FIGURE 16 the hooker-gripper element 110serves the function of hooking or gripping opposite ends of a belt loopmember 124. As shown, the belt loop member 124 has end loops 126 and 128provided in each end thereof; end loop 126 engaging arm 112 and end loop128 engaging arm 114. It will be seen that a belt loop member of thissort can be quickly fixed in "aavrf'rs s place or quickly detached fromthe waistband area when not needed. In order to facilitate passage ofone end of the belt loop member 124 through the exteriorly accessibleopening 90A and then the opening 92A it is preferable to stiffen one endthereof to at least a slight extent. As explained previously, thisstiffening may be accomplished in a number of ways such as by plasticimpregnation, heavy stitching, insertion of a stiffening member, etc.

From the foregoing description of the various possible embodiments shownin the drawing it will be apparent that the present inventioncontemplates the use of a belt loop member adjacent the waistband areaof a pair of trousers, said belt loop member being capable of beingquickly fixed in place adjacent the waistband area and then quicklyremoved therefrom when not needed. A further important feature of thepresent invention is that the means employed for fixing the belt loopmember in place are not exposed to view when the wearer does not wish tohave the belt loop members attached to the waistband area. It isbelieved that this concept is unique in the trousers industry andrepresents a very worthwhile invention which will find great acceptancein the trouser industry.

Since the belt loop members of this invention are all completelydetachable and disengageable from the waistband area, as opposed tohaving either one or both ends sewn to a portion of the waistband area,the belt loop members can be separately treated insofar as both theseller and purchaser are concerned. In other words, the wearer candetach the belt loops for cleaning and washing at any time and also thewearer is able to wear belt loop members having different colors andpatterns of material with a given pair of pants, should he so desire.This permits considerable variation in individual styling and taste.This invention contemplates that belt loop members might well be sold inseparate kits or packages. The belt loop members could be sold invarious lengths in order to fit over the varying widths of belts thatpurchasers might wish to use with their trousers.

Since an important feature of the previously described embodiments isthe insertion of one end of a completely separate belt loop memberthrough an exteriorly accessible opening in the lower circumferentialseam line of a waistband section, it is contemplated that due tofrequent insertion and removal of the belt loop member this area will besubject to more than ordinary wear. In order to minimize the effects ofthis wear it is contemplated that one' or more reinforcing strips can besewn or otherwise attached interiorly to the area surrounding saidopening. A number of tough and durable fabrics are available for thispurpose and their appearance is not of great importance since they arenot exposed to view.

It is thus seen that the present invention permits one to use trouserseither with a belt or without a belt, or to change back and forthbetween these two choices with a minimum of difficulty and withoutsacrificing anything insofar as the appearance of the trousers isconcerned. This invention enables clothing stores to avoid the necessityof carrying larger stocks merely in order to satisfy differing customertastes for belt loops.

As noted earlier, this invention is also applicable to womens slacks, orboys short pants, or Bermuda shorts or on any garment where a belt mightbe preferred by some purchasers and not by others.

In conclusion, while there has been illustrated and described somepreferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood thatsince the various details of com struction may obviously be variedconsiderably without really departing from the basic principles andteachings of this invention, we do not limit ourselves to the preciseconstructions herein disclosed and the right is specifically 6 What isclaimed is: 1. Trousers that can be used both with and without a beltcomprising in combination:

(a) a waistband section secured to the uppermost por- 5 tion of saidtrousers, said waistband section being defined by at least two layers ofmaterial.

(b) the lower circumferential portion of said waistband section beingjoined to the upper edge portion of the main body of the trousermaterial by stitching that is disposed along a generally circumferentialseam line,

(c) the circumferential seam line holding the lower edge of theoutermost layer of said waistband in place being interrupted at spacedapart intervals thus providing a plurality of exteriorly accessibleopenings,

(d) said openings being wide enough to accommodate a belt loop member,

(e) a plurality of removable belt loop members located at spacedintervals around said waistband section,

(f) said belt loop members being associated with the waistband sectionin a non-permanent manner so that each belt loop can be associated withand removed from said waistband section in a matter of seconds,

(g) each belt loop member comprising (1) a closed loop portionconsisting solely of layers of textile material and (2) an elongatedstiff portion attached to said closed loop portion,

(h) the elongated stiff portions of said belt loops extending inwardlyand upwardly through said plurality of exteriorly accessible openings sothat they remain positioned under the outer layer of cloth forming saidwaistband section,

(i) the closed loop portions of said belt loops extending upwardly fromsaid exteriorly accessible openings on the outside of said waistband ina position generally parallel to said elongated stiff portions andseparated therefrom by the outer layer of cloth forming said Waistband.

2. Trousers that can be used both with and without a belt and comprisingin combination:

(a) a waistband section secured to the uppermost portion of saidtrousers, said waistband section being defined by at least two layers ofmaterial,

(b) the lower circumferential portion of said waistband section beingjoined to the upper edge portion of the main body of the trousermaterial by stitching that is disposed along a generally circumferentialseam line,

(c) the circumferential seam line holding the lower edge of theoutermost layer of said waistband in place being interrupted at spacedapart intervals to provide a plurality of exteriorly accessibleopenings,

(d) the innermost layer of said waistband section containing a pluralityof interior openings that are aligned with said plurality of exteriorlyaccessible openings,

(e) said aligned pairs of openings being wide enough to accommodate abelt loop member,

(f) a plurality of removable belt loop members disposed at spacedintervals around said waistband section,

(g) each belt loop member comprising an intermediate loop portionconsisting solely of layers of textile material, the exterior layer ofwhich is visible when a belt is worn with the trousers, and upper andlower end portions which are not visible when a belt is worn with thetrousers,

(h) the lower end portion of each belt loop extending inwardly to theinterior of the waistband through one of said pairs of exteriorlyaccessible aligned openings,

(i) the upper end portion of each belt loop extending over the top ofthe waistband section,

(j) said lower end portion and said upper end por- 75 tion beingprovided with cooperating fastening means 7 8 to attach said twoportions together adjacent the 1,196,224 8/ 1916 Fleming 2--236 interiorof said Waistband. 2,142,288 1/ 1939 Schaefer 2--236 2,264,972 12/1941Greenberg 2-271 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5JORDAN FRANKLIN, Przmary Examiner.

403,220 5/1889 Sanders 2 271 X ROBERT SLOAN Examine- 85 O,534 4/1907Longeneelger 2.236 A. R. GUEST, Anvistqlgt Examiner.

1. TROUSERS THAT CAN BE USED BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT A BELT COMPRISING INCOMBINATION: (A) A WAISTBAND SECTION SECURED TO THE UPPERMOST PORTION OFSAID TROUSERS, SAID WAISTBAND SECTION BEING DEFINED BY AT LEAST TWOLAYERS OF MATERIAL, (B) THE LOWER CIRCUMFERENTIAL PORTION OF SAIDWAISTBAND SECTION BEING JOINED TO THE UPPER EDGE PORTION OF THE MAINBODY OF THE TROUSER MATERIAL BY STITCHING THAT IS DISPOSED ALONG AGENERALLY CIRCUMFERENTIAL SEAM LINE, (C) THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL SEAM LINEHOLDING THE LOWER EDGE OF THE OUTERMOST LAYER OF SAID WAISTBAND IN PLACEBEING INTERRUPTED AT SPACED APART INTERVALS THUS PROVIDING A PLURALITYOF EXTERIORLY ACCESSIBLE OPENINGS, (D) SAID OPENINGS BEING WIDE ENOUGHTO ACCOMMODATE A BELT LOOP MEMBER, (E) A PLURALITY OF REMOVABLE BELTLOOP MEMBERS LOCATED AT SPACED INTERVALS AROUND SAID WAISTBAND SECTION(F) SAID BELT LOOP MEMBERS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THE WAISTBAND SECTIONIN A NON-PERMANENT MANNER SO THAT EACH BELT LOOP CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITHAND REMOVED FROM SAID WAISTBAND SECTION IN A MANNER OF SECONDS, (G) EACHBELT LOOP MEMBER COMPRISING (1) A CLOSED LOOP PORTION CONSISTING SOLELYOF LAYERS OF TEXTILE MATERIAL AND (2) AN ELONGATED STIFF PORTIONATTACHED TO SAID CLOSED LOOP PORTION, (H) THE ELONGATED STIFF PORTIONSOF SAID BELT LOOPS EXTENDING INWARDLY AND UPWARDLY THROUGH SAIDPLURALITY OF EXTERIORLY ACCESSIBLE OPENINGS SO THAT THEY REMAINPOSITIONED UNDER THE OUTER LAYER OF CLOTH FORMING SAID WAISTBANDSECTION, (I) THE CLOSED LOOP PORTIONS OF SAID BELT LOOPS EXTENDINGUPWARDLY FROM SAID EXTERIORLY ACCESSIBLE OPENINGS ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAIDWAISTBAND IN A POSITION GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID ELONGATED STIFFPORTIONS AND SEPARATED THEREFROM BY THE OUTER LAYER OF CLOTH FORMINGSAID WAISTBAND.